Marin Voice: Marin Clean Energy offers greener and cheaper power

We write to correct a May 20 Marin Voice column written by Hunter Stern, of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who stated Marin Clean Energy's power supply is "dirtier than the power it replaced." This is simply not true.

When asked by the IJ about the power sources cited by Mr. Stern's organization, a spokesman for the California Energy Commission responded, "I don't know what they're referring to."

Every year, Marin Clean Energy and PG&E are required by the California Public Utilities Commission to mail out a joint comparison of their energy products. Marin and Richmond residents and businesses should receive this mailer sometime in the next few weeks.

It will illustrate that MCE's products contain at least double the amount of renewable energy as PG&E's energy product.

MCE's renewable energy content exceeds California requirements, and MCE is in good standing with state regulatory agencies. MCE voluntarily submits Deep Green, its 100-percent renewable energy product, for verification by an independent third party.

MCE's green power sources have been recognized nationwide. In 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency included nine Marin cities in the top 16 green power communities in the country. This was a direct result of joining MCE.

MCE also has contracts with 12 energy suppliers and has more than 54 megawatts of new California clean energy under development for its customers in Marin and Richmond. This is enough clean energy to power approximately 22,500 homes per year. MCE continues to support local renewable development in our communities by purchasing energy from Marin's largest solar installation at the San Rafael Airport. MCE is currently planning to develop another solar site at the Port of Richmond.

MCE is also cheaper, saving its customers $5.9 million this year. The city of Richmond will save almost $60,000 on its energy bills this year because of MCE. And its public school district will save even more. Similarly, San Rafael will save about $47,000 this year.

If the energy is both greener and cheaper, why would Mr. Stern attack MCE, a not-for-profit, public agency? According to the IJ, his attacks point back to PG&E.

Assembly Bill 2145, the bill Mr. Stern promotes, is a monopoly protection bill. The bill would impose corporate monopoly control instead of local community choice, just like PG&E's 2010 failed Proposition 16. This bill would make it almost impossible to launch any new Community Choice Aggregation energy programs in California.

AB 2145 has three supporters: two monopoly utilities and an association of their employees.

Who opposes AB 2145? Just about everyone else. In addition to a statewide petition that has garnered over 19,000 signatures, opposition to this bill comes from local governments, nonprofit organizations and private businesses.

These groups include a diverse range of interests, such as the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, the Green Party of California, the California Solar Energy Industries Association, the Sierra Club, the League of California Cities and the state office at the Public Utilities Commission that protects customers from utility abuse.

Over 140 entities oppose this bill. For a complete list, you can visit www.no2145.org.

We urge Mr. Stern to abandon his campaign of misinformation, and work with PG&E to improve its own renewable clean energy program (and frankly, PG&E's safety programs). MCE and its like provide real choices in alternative power to the public.

Richmond City Councilman Tom Butt and Corte Madera Town Councilman Sloan Bailey are members of MCE's governing board.